CITY TRIBUNE
Barry does it again as Utd pull off surprise away win
CABINTEELY FC 0
GALWAY UNITED 1
Daire Walsh in Stradbrook
CONOR Barry’s sublime first-half strike helped Galway United to record a superb and unexpected victory over Cabinteely in the SSE Airtricity League First Division at Stradbrook last Friday night.
This was the Tribesmen’s first league win in all of 13 games – dating back to a May 17 success at the expense of Longford Town. Alan Murphy’s men had to dig deep at various junctures in the play, but ultimately held out to claim the scalp of the south Dubliners.
Following the previous Sunday’s morale-boosting FAI Cup win over Collinstown on the far side of the Sky Blue city, Galway were always likely to keep changes at a minimum. First-choice attacker Vinny Faherty, however, was ruled out through injury, leading to a significant reshuffle in the United starting line-up.
Marc Ludden was promoted in his place and was deployed – along with Christopher Horgan – as a wing-back in a rigid Galway defence. Conor Melody was pushed further forward, while Barry and Stephen Christopher offered additional support in the final third.
In a lively start to the contest, both teams enjoyed their fair share of possession. Barry broke at pace into the Cabinteely half and looked to pick out the galloping Maurice Nugent on the right-flank.
However, the retreating opposition rearguard cut out his attempted pass and proceeded to increase the pressure on the Tribesmen as the first-quarter progressed. The pacy Yuta Sasaki was combining to good effect with Robert Manley, albeit the Galway defence largely held their own.
Paul Fox’s low effort forced a save out of Galway’s Kevin Horgan, before Cabinteely were subsequently left stunned on 19 minutes. Barry was the match-winner for Galway in last week’s victory at Whitehall and he once again produced a magic moment for the visitors.
For more, read this week’s Galway City Tribune.
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